Colombia has earned its status as a must-visit travel destination for the simple reason that its diverse environments offer something for everyone. Bogotá is a fascinating metropolis with culture to spare, with the pre-Columbian treasures on show at its Gold Museum the jewel in its crown. Travelers can indulge their inner Indiana Jones by venturing deep into Amazonas and canoeing on the Amazon, alongside pink river dolphins and caimans, or making friends with the world’s smallest primate, the adorably diminutive pygmy marmoset. Adrenaline junkies can head to San Gil for a paragliding trip or a raft journey down raging rivers. The Guajira Peninsula, with its arid coastal deserts, beckons those looking for a spiritual retreat rich in indigenous culture. The ramparts of Cartagena’s walled city tell a story of a once great fortress that protected ignominiously appropriated treasures from invading hordes, while the white-sand Caribbean beaches and crystalline waters of Santa Marta and Isla San Andrés are the stuff of postcards. Music lovers will find their fix in the salsa clubs of Cali, or the outdoor vallenato concerts in Valledupar.
El Cocuy Cordillera and National Park.
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Then there’s the Colombia that wary tourists have heard about for years; the country where its citizens have had to endure rather than enjoy. From the first spasms of La Violencia, the 10-year civil war that tore the country apart, to the constant battles and skirmishes between the government, drug cartels and leftist insurgents, Colombia is a country that has shed more than its share of blood.
Despite the darkness of the 20th century, Colombia has turned a corner. Chubby, mustached drug kingpins no longer control the nation. The government and the rebels are ready for peace once and for all, and Colombia’s citizens are ready to inhabit a country where their natural happiness can dominate once again, unchecked by the darker aspects of human nature.
Carnival of Barranquilla.
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In many ways Colombia’s renaissance is already here; the country radiates every treasure the first inhabitants found in its soil. Its mountains are emeralds, stretching to the four corners of the country; the Caribbean sunsets are pure gold. Colombia is El Dorado, and the real gems are the people – always ready to welcome visitors with open arms, just waiting for them to discover their country’s natural wonders.